Dokyi, GOOsei, KKTookey, JRotimi, FE2025-05-192025-05-192025-04-28International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, ISSN: 1556-8318 (Print); 1556-8334 (Online), Informa UK Limited, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print), 1-18. doi: 10.1080/15568318.2025.24968941556-83181556-8334http://hdl.handle.net/10292/19230This study explores the economic criterion indicators for sustainable road and highway infrastructure development in Ghana through a phenomenological research approach. Using SWOT analysis and semi-structured interviews with 14 key stakeholders, including government officials, academics, and private sector professionals, the research examines four critical economic indicators: material costs, lifecycle costs, construction time, and maintenance and operation costs Through content analysis using ATLAS.ti 9 software, the study evaluates internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats affecting each indicator’s implementation. The findings reveal multifaceted challenges including insufficient expertise in lifecycle cost analysis, inadequate maintenance funding, weak regulatory enforcement, and political interference. The study identifies strategic action plans for each indicator, including local material sourcing, improved procurement practices, capacity building initiatives, enhanced stakeholder collaboration, and technological integration. These recommendations are supported by specific deliverables and expert remarks that provide practical implementation guidance. This research contributes to sustainable infrastructure development theory and practice by providing a comprehensive framework for economic sustainability in Ghana’s road and highway sector. While the study’s geographical focus may limit generalisability, it offers valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners in developing countries facing similar challenges. The findings suggest that the successful implementation of economic sustainability indicators requires a coordinated approach combining technical expertise, policy reform, and stakeholder engagement, while considering local contextual factors.(C) 2025 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION 2025, VOL. 19, NO. 5, 375–392 https://doi.org/10.1080/15568318.2025.24968943509 Transportation, Logistics and Supply Chains4406 Human Geography35 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services44 Human Society12 Responsible Consumption and Production1205 Urban and Regional Planning1507 Transportation and Freight Services1604 Human Geography3509 Transportation, logistics and supply chainsEconomic sustainabilityGhanahighway developmentlife cycle costsroad infrastructureJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.1080/15568318.2025.2496894